2008 Pontiac Torrent Engine Problems

Electrical problems have been occurring. My lights keep getting dim, then bright. Check engine light is on, the truck is making a loud noise, overheating, battery draining fast. Please note that the battery is new, starter is new, water pump is new , I got new engine fans, radiator and the truck is still running hot, battery dies over night. I need some help this is my only vehicle and I've spent thousands of dollars trying to get this truck right over the years. Are there any affordable warranty plans available for assistance?

NHTSA ID

11725433

Incident

Mar 11, 2020

VEHICLE WITH AROUND 100K. TRACTION CONTROL HAS BEEN DISABLED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS FOR NO REASON. GOES OFF SPORADICALLY. NOW VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING FOR NO REASON. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF HEADGASKET. OIL IS CLEAN, OVERFLOW IS FULL, NO LEAKS TO BE SEEN. OVERHEATS MOSTLY WHEN STANDING IDLE. VEHICLE IS A HEADACHE. HOW ARE THERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE WHEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE STATING THE SAME ISSUES? VEHICLE IS DRIVING NORMALLY BESIDES THAT. MOST OF OUR DRIVING IS IN TOWN / HIGHWAY DRIVING (LESS THAN 20MILES DISTANCE). WE'VE ONLY PUT 10K ON THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING 2 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ID

11254526

Incident

Aug 20, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT (WHO WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC) STATED THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) VALVE FAILED AND SHUT OFF THE ABS. ALSO, THE DISABLE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EGR VALVE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE SHUT OFF THE ABS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11186906

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

Mileage

104,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS KEPT RANDOMLY FLASHING. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND TRAVELING ON BUMPY ROADS, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO THE POINT OF POTENTIALLY STALLING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. ALSO, THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, AT TIMES, DURING THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11121229

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10853872

Incident

Mar 4, 2016

LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE CONSTANTLY COMING ON. OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, I CONSTANTLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE"; "SERVICE STABILITRAK"; AND "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHTS COMING ON. I LIVE IN PA AND WAS DRIVING TO MISSISSIPPI WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED AND NEEDLESS TO SAY I PANICKED. I CALLED BACK HOME TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD BE OKAY UNTIL I GOT HOME, THAT I ONLY NEEDED TO BE CONCERNED IF THE ROADS WERE WET. IT WAS ON THE ENTIRE TRIP AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT TURNED OFF. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHY. NOW IT COMES ON WHENEVER IT WANTS TO AND STAYS ON FOR DAYS. THEN IT GOES OFF FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN COMES ON AGAIN. NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHAT CAUSES IT. I'M CONCERNED THAT IT MAY BE CAUSING A BIGGER PROBLEM. NOT HAPPY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY RESOLVE TO THIS.

NHTSA ID

10785177

Incident

Jul 18, 2013

Mileage

99,900 mi

I HAD A CODE P0008 FOR CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR ON FIRST INCIDENT AND TIMING CHAINS WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY 2012. I HAD APPROXIMATELY 52,465 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD SECOND CODE P0008 IN MAY 2014 WITH APPROXIMATELY 70,759 MILES ON THE CAR. THE TIMING CHAINS WERE STRETCHED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I NOW HAVE THE CODE P0008 WITH APPROXIMATELY 83,204 MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10730865

Incident

Jan 31, 2012

Mileage

52,465 mi

I HEARD A SLIGHT CLATTERING COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ONE AFTERNOON ON MY WAY TO TOWN. I PULLED OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CALLED ON STAR TO ASK THEM TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC.THE ON STAR ADVISER SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER TRAIN.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER CHECKING OUT THE CAR THEY SAID HALF OF THE MOTOR WAS NOT GETTING OIL PUMPED TO IT, IT HAS A DUAL OVERHEAD CAM. THEY SAID IT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THE OIL WOULDN'T GET THROUGH TO BOTH PARTS OF THE MOTOR. IT HAD SOME SORT OF "CLOG" IN IT, BUT COULD NOT SPECIFY WHERE. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR OR THEY COULD BREAK IT DOWN AND FIND THE PROBLEM BUT IT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO IT THIS WAY. I ENDED UP PAYING $7098 FOR A NEW MOTOR. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD ALREADY EXPIRED, I PAID THE CAR OFF THE MONTH BEFORE AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO RECALLS ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE, CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 2800 MILES AND USED A HIGH GRADE FILTER AND SYNTHETIC OIL. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE MOTOR TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10716024

Incident

Apr 27, 2015

Mileage

71,000 mi

CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I TRIED TO GET OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP FOR A FEW MINUTES ONLY. JERKING (LACK OF ACCELERATION) CONTINUED UNTIL CALLED GM HO AND CONNECTED WITH MY DEALER UNDER "SPECIAL COVERAGE." HAD TO TAKE A MECHANIC ON THE ROAD AND DUPLICATE TO BE SURE I WAS NOT DISMISSED AGAIN WITHOUT FIXING. GIVEN A HARD TIME ABOUT GETTING THE FULL SPECIAL COVERAGE TO COVER THE SPARK PLUG WIRES & SPARK PLUGS, BUT DEALER GAVE IN SINCE REPEATED VISITS FOR SAME PROBLEM. STILL AWAITING A "SPECIALIST" FROM GM TO CALL BACK REGARDING SPARK PLUGS BEING INCLUDED AND WHY I CANNOT VIEW THE ACTUAL "SPECIAL COVERAGE" DOCUMENT AS TO THIS PROBLEM POSSIBLY REPEATING ITSELF EVERY 6 MONTHS PER OTHER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619227

Incident

Aug 5, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

REPORTED VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION "CHUGGING" BETWEEN 45-65 MPH FOR THE LAST YEAR. NO ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY "COULDN'T RECREATE IT" SO NOTHING DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619220

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

HAVE SENT THIS LETTER TO THE CEO OF GENERAL MOTORS ON 6/3/14. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A REPLY. AS IT IS STATED, IN THIS SITUATION WHERE GAS AND ANTIFREEZE WERE MIXING IN THE ENGINE, DUE TO EITHER A SLOW LEAK OR A GASKET BLEW, THE TORRENT WAS NOT BUILT WITH A SENSOR TO TURN ON THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO NOTIFY THE DRIVER OF A POTENTIAL SERIOUS SITUATION-TOTAL MECHANICAL FAILURE-LEADING TO POTENTIAL FATAL INJURIES WHILE DRIVING-SUCH AS A FIRE, ACCIDENT, OR EVEN DEATH. [XXX] IN REFERENCE TO CLAIM NUMBER [XXX]. I HAVE CALLED AND SPOKEN TO DEAN AT CORPORATE ON 6/3/14 AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. 5/30/14, I CALL THE DEALERSHIP FIRST SPOKE TO A FEW PEOPLE AND LEFT MY INFORMATION, I RECEIVED NO PHONE CALL BACK UNTIL I CALLED CORPORATE ON 6/3/14 AND COMPLAINED. I FIND THIS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL ESPECIALLY KNOWING THE SITUATION WHERE LIVES WERE POTENTIAL AT RISK, AND OTHERS STILL ARE. THE MAJOR CONCERN WITH MY VEHICLE IS THAT OUT OF NOWHERE WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE FAILED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME WITH ANY WARNING LIGHT TO NOTIFY THE DRIVER OF THIS SITUATION-THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY CAR IS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT HAS NOW INSPECTED THE CAR, CONCUR THAT THIS IS FROM MECHANICAL FAILURE. AS A MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN, TO THINK THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT WITH THEM IN THE CARE-POSSIBLY LEADING TO DEATHS?WELL YOU CAN IMAGINE MY CONCERN. AS I AM BLESSED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THE CAR JUST DIED, I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS A SAFE CAR, AND BEING A WOMAN IN YOUR POSITION I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND MY POSITION AND WILL DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). TR

NHTSA ID

10596072

Incident

May 18, 2014

Mileage

52,000 mi

TIMING CHAIN JULY 2013 REPAIR TRANSMISSION JANUARY 2014 REPAIR TRANSMISSION LINE/SEALS 2014 MAY 2014 STEERING MAY 2014 POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT LOW SPEEDS AND IS IN AND OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595914

Incident

May 24, 2014

Mileage

94,258 mi

ASIDE FROM IGNITION KEY BEING STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH IS STILL THAT WAY, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ON HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70MPH. ALSO, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SHOWS IT BEING OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577783

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

Mileage

2,500 mi